1. The way an audience perceives the play is shaped by the choice of performance venue, as well as the set that is designed for the play. Indeed, all the elements that you see and hear during a performance are bound to shape your perception of the play. Which of the following venues do you think can best meet the needs of the play?
Choose one of the follow and explain why you have selected this kind of venue. proscenium, arena, thrust, flexible
I think a thrust stage would be best because there are different settings within the play that could be staged around the thrust. For example the police station could be on the main stage. Their apartment could be down the stairs to the left and outside on the streets could be down the stairs to the right. I think this would make it easier for the audience to grasp the story and it would allow the sets to be more detailed.
2. What are some of the challenges posed by the play on the stage design team?
the obvious challenge is the fact that there is multiple settings and areas that the play had to take place in. This is difficult because to change a set overall is hard to do. There is also the setting problem of making an indoor space look like it is outdoors. This is necessary for the first act. Another big issue is trying to figure out how to bring cars on stage. Since the thief was trying to steal a car and since Val was in his police car we have to include these.
3. Choose a character from the play and suggest how she/he should be dressed. In what ways do you think the costume would help accentuate his/her character? Be sure to indicate which scene you have selected to costume that character. You might even upload a picture of the kind of dress you think would be suitable for that character to wear.
Alea, I see Alea as being very casual. Jeans and a button up tshirt. She seems to be somewhat casual and laid back as she is described in the play. I think this helps her character seem more loving and homey. This is important because she is the one who sticks up for Val and tries to get him to choose their life over prison for doing "What is right" and telling on himself. Since she is Val's comfort I think she needs to wear comfortable clothes.
4. Given the content of the play, how might the lighting design help further the mood of the production? Move thru the play scene by scene to provide a possible progression.
1st Scene- Dark lighting. I think maybe even a spotlight on Val and Willis. This is a major dramatic action and some very shocking things are said. A Spotlight is very dramatic so this would add to the tension. The Middle Scene- I think they can use regular lighting to play up the settings and the characters. I do not think anything dramatic has to be shown using these lights. This is kind of the filler of the play. This is when Val goes to talk to his father Rusty and is looking for absolution. Last scene- Val is being interrogated by his Police Chief over the homicide of the victim. I think we can bring the spotlight back. This is a dramatic situation where we determine the fate of Val himself and the fate of those that rely on him. I think the spotlight would add good consistency with the beginning of the play and also make a fabulous contrast to the normalcy of the middle play. We also get his decision about his action now so this would be good to highlight with a spotlight.
5. Suggest music or sound effects that might be used to accentuate the mood or atmosphere of the play and the transitions between parts of the play. You might even choose to upload music or sound effects that you think are suitable for the play, or moment in the play, or as preshow music or transitions from one scene to another.
For sound effects I think that there should be a very loud shot when Val fires the gun. I also think there should be the sound of a rapping judge hammer when he is reporting to parker. This makes it feel more like a trial which is what he is going through. As for music this is a hard one to say because I think this play can go a couple of directions with its mood. For transition music I would probably have to see the actors that were playing the roles and the setting together. I think this can be a big determiner of the music. Does the music fit them or not?
1. The way an audience perceives the play is shaped by the choice of performance venue, as well as the set that is designed for the play. Indeed, all the elements that you see and hear during a performance are bound to shape your perception of the play. Which of the following venues do you think can best meet the needs of the play?
Choose one of the follow and explain why you have selected this kind of venue. proscenium, arena, thrust, flexible
I think a thrust stage would be best because there are different settings within the play that could be staged around the thrust. For example the police station could be on the main stage. Their apartment could be down the stairs to the left and outside on the streets could be down the stairs to the right. I think this would make it easier for the audience to grasp the story and it would allow the sets to be more detailed.
2. What are some of the challenges posed by the play on the stage design team?
the obvious challenge is the fact that there is multiple settings and areas that the play had to take place in. This is difficult because to change a set overall is hard to do. There is also the setting problem of making an indoor space look like it is outdoors. This is necessary for the first act. Another big issue is trying to figure out how to bring cars on stage. Since the thief was trying to steal a car and since Val was in his police car we have to include these.
3. Choose a character from the play and suggest how she/he should be dressed. In what ways do you think the costume would help accentuate his/her character? Be sure to indicate which scene you have selected to costume that character. You might even upload a picture of the kind of dress you think would be suitable for that character to wear.
Alea, I see Alea as being very casual. Jeans and a button up tshirt. She seems to be somewhat casual and laid back as she is described in the play. I think this helps her character seem more loving and homey. This is important because she is the one who sticks up for Val and tries to get him to choose their life over prison for doing "What is right" and telling on himself. Since she is Val's comfort I think she needs to wear comfortable clothes.
4. Given the content of the play, how might the lighting design help further the mood of the production? Move thru the play scene by scene to provide a possible progression.
1st Scene- Dark lighting. I think maybe even a spotlight on Val and Willis. This is a major dramatic action and some very shocking things are said. A Spotlight is very dramatic so this would add to the tension.
The Middle Scene- I think they can use regular lighting to play up the settings and the characters. I do not think anything dramatic has to be shown using these lights. This is kind of the filler of the play. This is when Val goes to talk to his father Rusty and is looking for absolution.
Last scene- Val is being interrogated by his Police Chief over the homicide of the victim. I think we can bring the spotlight back. This is a dramatic situation where we determine the fate of Val himself and the fate of those that rely on him. I think the spotlight would add good consistency with the beginning of the play and also make a fabulous contrast to the normalcy of the middle play. We also get his decision about his action now so this would be good to highlight with a spotlight.
5. Suggest music or sound effects that might be used to accentuate the mood or atmosphere of the play and the transitions between parts of the play. You might even choose to upload music or sound effects that you think are suitable for the play, or moment in the play, or as preshow music or transitions from one scene to another.
For sound effects I think that there should be a very loud shot when Val fires the gun. I also think there should be the sound of a rapping judge hammer when he is reporting to parker. This makes it feel more like a trial which is what he is going through. As for music this is a hard one to say because I think this play can go a couple of directions with its mood. For transition music I would probably have to see the actors that were playing the roles and the setting together. I think this can be a big determiner of the music. Does the music fit them or not?